802.11g cards can't see 802.11b network?

19 Aug 2006 9:29 PM

itzed

Hi,

     I have Belkin 802.11b wireless router that I have used for my wireless
home network. It works fine with my older notebooks and my belkin 802.11b PC
cards I've used on my older computers. Now I have two new Gateway notebooks
with built in 802.11g cards. My problem is that these computers with their
built in 802.11g cards cannot see my home 802.11b network. Of course I've
called Gateway and they say there must be a problem with router. Belkin says
there must be a problem with the cards in the computer. Having called both
places multiple times, spoken with different people, and reinstalled multiple
drivers, I'm still no closer to getting this working and I've still not
gotten a satisfactory answer as to why this isn't.   I've traveled with these
new computers and I know their built in cards work because I've used them at
coffee shops and they always find the wireless networks there.

     I can use my old Belkin PC cards in these new computers and that works
fine. However, I would like to continue to use them on the old computers
(without the built in cards) and use the built in ones on the Gateways. Can
someone tell me if this is going to be possible? Are these frequencies not
compatable? Do I need to get a new 802.11g router, and then if I do that
would I need to get new 802.11g PC cards for the old computers?

     Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Ed

20 Aug 2006 1:34 AM

Jack (MVP-Networking).

Hi
Old 802.11b Wireless Routers Temperamental.
Given the prices of 802.11g Routers here is no reason to "torment" ;)
yourself.
In addton most 802.11b Wireless Routers can do only WEP, which make them a
risky device thee days.
Example:
http://www.compusa.com/adproducts/product_info.asp?pfp=cat3&product_code=331849&Pn=Wireless_MAXg_Router_with_Print_Server
Or,
http://www.compusa.com/adproducts/product_info.asp?pfp=cat3&product_code=331849&Pn=Wireless_MAXg_Router_with_Print_Server
Jack (MVP-Networking).

Show quoteHide quote

"itzed" <it***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B522BC4E-856C-4E11-9A5C-345FCB264125@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
>     I have Belkin 802.11b wireless router that I have used for my wireless
> home network. It works fine with my older notebooks and my belkin 802.11b
> PC
> cards I've used on my older computers. Now I have two new Gateway
> notebooks
> with built in 802.11g cards. My problem is that these computers with
> their
> built in 802.11g cards cannot see my home 802.11b network. Of course I've
> called Gateway and they say there must be a problem with router. Belkin
> says
> there must be a problem with the cards in the computer. Having called
> both
> places multiple times, spoken with different people, and reinstalled
> multiple
> drivers, I'm still no closer to getting this working and I've still not
> gotten a satisfactory answer as to why this isn't.   I've traveled with
> these
> new computers and I know their built in cards work because I've used them
> at
> coffee shops and they always find the wireless networks there.
>
>     I can use my old Belkin PC cards in these new computers and that works
> fine. However, I would like to continue to use them on the old computers
> (without the built in cards) and use the built in ones on the Gateways.
> Can
> someone tell me if this is going to be possible? Are these frequencies
> not
> compatable? Do I need to get a new 802.11g router, and then if I do that
> would I need to get new 802.11g PC cards for the old computers?
>
>     Thanks in advance for any guidance.
>
> Ed
>

21 Aug 2006 1:38 AM

Lem

itzed wrote:

Show quoteHide quote

> Hi,
>
>      I have Belkin 802.11b wireless router that I have used for my wireless
> home network. It works fine with my older notebooks and my belkin 802.11b PC
> cards I've used on my older computers. Now I have two new Gateway notebooks
> with built in 802.11g cards. My problem is that these computers with their
> built in 802.11g cards cannot see my home 802.11b network. Of course I've
> called Gateway and they say there must be a problem with router. Belkin says
> there must be a problem with the cards in the computer. Having called both
> places multiple times, spoken with different people, and reinstalled multiple
> drivers, I'm still no closer to getting this working and I've still not
> gotten a satisfactory answer as to why this isn't.   I've traveled with these
> new computers and I know their built in cards work because I've used them at
> coffee shops and they always find the wireless networks there.
>
>      I can use my old Belkin PC cards in these new computers and that works
> fine. However, I would like to continue to use them on the old computers
> (without the built in cards) and use the built in ones on the Gateways. Can
> someone tell me if this is going to be possible? Are these frequencies not
> compatable? Do I need to get a new 802.11g router, and then if I do that
> would I need to get new 802.11g PC cards for the old computers?
>
>      Thanks in advance for any guidance.
>
> Ed
>

In addition to Jack's response, and to respond to the very last question
you had, if you buy a new 802.11(g) router, most (all?) home wireless G
routers can handle a "mixed" network of both 802.11(b) and 802.11(g)
clients. There are two caveats:

When G routers first came out a couple of years ago, the presence of B
devices on a mixed network often slowed the performance of the entire
network. I don't know if this problem still exists.

And, as Jack said with regard to your B router, your B computers most
likely only are capable of WEP encryption. Because all devices on a
wireless network must use the same encryption level, you will have to
use WEP, even though your new 802.11(g) router and new laptops are
capable of better encryption.